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but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you; being then made free from fin, ye became the fervants of righteousness. I fpeak after the manner of men, because of the infirmity of your flesh; for as ye have yielded your members fervants to uncleannefs, and to iniquity, unto iniquity; even fo now yield your members fervants to righteousness, unto holiness. For when ye were the fervants of fin, ye were free from righteoufnefs. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now afhamed? For the end of those things is death. But now, being made free from fin, and become fervants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlafting life. For the wages of fin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jefus Christ our Lord.

Q. It would appear then, that God requires of us to be perfect?

A. Be ye therefore perfect, ever as your Mat. Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Q. Is it then poffible to keep the command

ments?

5. 48,

A. My yoke is eafy, and my burthen is Mat. light. For this is the law of God, that II. 30% we keep his commandments, and his com- John mandments are not grievous..

Q. Is

5.3.

Rev.

Q. Is it neceffary then for faluation, ta keep the commandments?

A. Bleffed are they that do his com. 22. 14. mandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

1 John

3. 10.

1 John

Q. Do you understand by this perfection, that any have fo kept the commandments, as never to have finned ?

A. If we fay that we have not finned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in

us.

Q. Do you understand, that thofe who are perfect may fay, they have no fin; or only that having finned, and fo having fin, in refpect they once finned, as the apostle in the paffage cited mentions, may, notwithstanding thereof, not only come to know forgiveness for the guilt, but also cleansing from the filth?

A. If we fay we have no fin, we deceive 1. 8. 9. ourselves, and the truth is not in us: if we confefs our fins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our fins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteoufnefs.

Q. This fcripture feems to be very plain, being compared with the other before mentioned: but because fome are apt to miflake and wreft the words of the apostle, what faith he elfewhere? Did he judge any could know God, or be true Chriftians, who kept not the commandments ?

A. My

2. 1. 32

4, 5, 6.

A. My little children, these things write 1 John I unto you, that ye fin not; and if any man fin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous and hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that faith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whofo keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. Hereby know we that we are in him: he that faith he abideth in him, ought himself also fo to walk even as he walked.

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Beloved, now are we the fons of God, 1 John and it doth not yet appear what we fhall be ; 10. but we know, that when he fhall appear, we fhall be like him, for we shall see him as he is: and every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whofoever committeth fin, tranfgreffeth alfo the law, for fin is the tranfgreffion of the law. And ye know that he was mani. fefted to take away our fins; and in him is no fin. Whofoever abideth in him finneth not. Whofoever finneth, hath not feen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth fin is of the devil; for the devil finneth from the beginning. For this purpofe the Son of

God

Mat. 7.

God was manifefted, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whofoever is born of God, doth not commit fin; for his feed remaineth 'in him, and he cannot fin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifeft, and the children of the devil. Whofoever doth not righteoufnefs, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

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Q. It is very plain by thefe paffages, that the apostles were far of another mind, than thofe that plead for fin during term of life; and much against the deceit of those who will efeem themselves good Chriftians while they live in their fins,

4. Not every one that faith unto me, 21. 24. Lord, Lord, fhall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Therefore, whofoever heareth thefe fayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wife man, which built his houfe upon a rock. If ye know thefe things, happy are ye if

John

13. 17. ye do them.

I Cor.

QWhat faith the apofile Paul further concerning the needfulness of this thing?

A. Circumcifion is nothing, and uncir7. 19. cumcifion is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.

Q. Was not this, according to the apostle Paul's judgment, the very intention of Chrift,

to

to have his church and children to be pure, and without fpot?

I.

A. According as he has chofen us in Eph. him before the foundation of the world, 1. 4. that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love.

Even as Chrift alfo loved the church, Eph. 5. and gave himself for it, that he might fanc 25 to27. tify and cleanse it, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing, but that it should be holy, and without blemish.

Q. Doth not Paul prefs the fame thing further, befides the other paffages above-mentioned ?

A. Having therefore thefe promifes, 2 Cor. dearly beloved, let us cleanfe ourselves 7.1. from all filthinefs of the flesh and fpirit, perfecting holinefs in the fear of God.

Col

Finally, brethren, farewell; be perfect. 2 Cor. Chrift in you the hope of glory, whom wè 13. 14: preach, warning every man, and teaching 1. 28. every man in all wisdom, that we may prefent every man perfect in Chrift Jefus.

4. 12.

Labouring fervently for you in prayers, Col. that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. To the end he may Thèf? eftablish your hearts unblameable in holi 3. 13. nefs before God. And the very God of Ch. 5. peace fanctify you wholly; and I pray God, your whole fpirit, and foul, and body, be

prefented

23.

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